France thrash Scotland in Nice

Scotland’s World Cup preparations got off to a nightmare start as they were crushed 32-3 by France in Nice.

Playing the first of four warm-up clashes, Gregor Townsend’s team were hoping to build up some momentum before they depart for Japan next month with a first victory on French soil since 1999.

But the Dark Blues simply could not contain the power and intensity of Jacques Brunel’s Les Bleus, who ran in five tries as Maxime Medard’s double was complimented by scores from debutant Alivereti Raka, Gregor Alldritt and Antoine Dupont.

Temperatures of 25 degrees and a questionable pitch at the Allianz Riviera did not help the Scots’ cause but Townsend will be concerned by how sluggish his team looked with less than a month to go before they depart for the Far East.

Jamie Bhatti in particular will be fearing for his seat on the plane after being hooked at half-time.

Townsend then dropped a hint he may be prepared to take just five props with him when they jet out on September 9 after switching tighthead Simon Berghan to loosehead for the second half.

Duncan Taylor was back for his first appearance in a Scotland shirt after two years of injury hell while John Barclay was also making his return after an 18-month international lay-off caused by a ruptured Achilles.